Lift and load control assembly



Nov. 9, 1965 L. s. M KINNEY 3,216,369

D CONTROL ASSEMBLY Nov. 9, 1965 McKINNEY 3,216,369

LIFT AND LOAD CONTROL ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3697 H INVENTOR. U :2 LARRY 'nMc KINNEY 18 I 51 o4 8Q 58 BY l J 56 133mfiwm 624 \o'z l4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,216,369 LIFT AND LOADCONTROL ASSEMBLY Larry G. McKinney, Winslow, Ind. (Rte. 3, Owensville,Ind.) Filed Oct. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 318,966 Claims. (Cl. 104176) Thisinvention relates to a lift and load control assembly for use in movingheavy objects across inclined areas such as up or down flights ofstairs, or the like. More specifically, the invention pertains to newand novel improvements in a lift and load control assembly to permit thesafe transport of heavy objects where the objects to be transported arelocated on conventional dolly assemblies.

In the handling of heavy or bulky items, such as appliances, pianos,furniture and crated merchandise, it is customary to employ flat,four-wheeled vehicles known as dollies consisting of a flat frame withfour caster wheels thereon. The heavy or bulky items are placed on thedollies, either manually or otherwise, and the load may then be pushedfrom place to place. However, where obstructions such as stairways orother inclined areas are encountered, the dollies are of little aid andmay constitute a hindrance to successful transport of the load over theobstruction. It is therefore an object of the instant invention tosupply means for movement and control of heavy objects on a dolly eitherup or down an inclined obstruction such as a stairway.

Another important object of the invention is to supply transport meansof the character indicated having leverage means or the like permittingremote application of the moving force to transport the heavy objectsover obstructions.

A still further object is to supply sectional transport lift means, thesections of which are used in desired combination to provide a lift orcontrol means of at least a desired length.

Yet another object is to provide non-slip, tiltable base support meansfor a portable life and control assembly of the type described.

Another objective is to provide a lift and control involving trackmeans, load engaging means riding on the track means, and control meansregulating movement of the load engaging means relative to the trackmeans.

A still further objective of importance is to supply means to preventdamage or marring of the load by the load engaging means.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of thefollowing specification when read in conjunction with the annexeddrawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of stairway having a liftassembly constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention, showing in full and phantom lines alternative positionsof load engagement means thereof, and showing a loaded dollytype vehiclein phantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, foreshortened perspective view showing asectional assembly according to this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a foreshortened side elevational view of the assembly,partially in section to show details;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view, taken substantially on thesection line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the section line 5-5of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the environment chosen forillustration herein consists of a flight of we C6 stairs 10 leading froma lower level 12 to an upper level 14. The apparatus hereof isillustrated in use in movement of a load up the stairs 10 from the lowerlevel 12 to upper level 14, but it will be seen, as appears below, thatthe apparatus is of equivalent utility in transporting a load either upor down an inclined obstruction wherein control of the load movement isrequired.

Apparatus in accordance with this invention is shown in the drawings andgenerally identified therein by reference numeral 20. The assembly 20comprises at least one elongated frame assembly 22 including a pair ofspaced rail members 24 each having an upper end 26, a lower end 28, andupper and lower sides 30, 32 respectively. As best seen in FIGURES l and5, the upper sides 30 have channels 34 formed therein, comprisingtrackways, and extending the full length thereof.

Rails 24 are connected by a plurality of cylindrical transverse rods 36.To the rail members 24 is operatively connected a lift and loweringmeans. Specifically, the railmembers 24, adjacent the upper ends 26, areprovided with aligned openings 38 in which is journaled therebetween across-axle 40, the axle 40 having projecting ends 42 which are extendedoutwardly of the rails and form lugs. A substantially cylindrical roller44, formed of rubber or the like, is secured on the axle 40 between therail members 24, and a pair of idler pulley wheels 46 are secured on theaxle on opposite sides of the roller. As best seen in FIGURE 5, thepulley wheels have circumferential grooves 48 therein in the usualmanner.

Adjacent the lower ends 28 of the rail members 24, each rail member hasa reel mounting plate 50 and 52, respectively, depending from its lowerside 32 and fixed thereto as by welding. The plates are transverselyaligned and have coaxial openings 54 formed therein whereby a' driveaxle 56 is journalled therebetween, the axle having reduced ends 58, 60riding in openings 54 and extending outwardly of the plates. The driveaxle 56 has a pair of spaced apart, grooved reel guide means 62 thereondealt within more detail below.

Fixed to the projecting end 60 of the axle 56 adjacent the plate 52 is afirst inclined tooth ratchet wheel including inclined teeth 66 angled ina first direction. Mounted adjacent the outer side of plate 52 on anaxle extension 68 of a cross brace 69 and meshed with the wheel 64 is asecond inclined tooth ratchet wheel 70 with teeth 72 angled in saiddirection and meshed with the first wheel-the second wheel 70 being ofreduced diameter relative to the first wheel 64. A hand-actuable meansor a leverage applying handle 74 is connected to the stub axle 68 forturning the axle and wheel 70 thereby moving wheels 70 and 64 in thedirections indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 3. A second stub axle 76 issecured to the plate 52 and carries a ratchet dog 78 engageable with theteeth 66 of wheel 64 to prevent movement thereof in a direction oppositeto that indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 3. The dog 78 is rotatable toits operating position seen in full lines in FIGURE 1, and to anonoperating position shown in dotted lines therein.

Cables 80 are secured to each reel guide 62 and are trained about theidler pulleys 46 riding in the grooves 48 thereof, the cables havingterminal ends 82. A wheeled lift frame 84, comprising dolly boostermeans, is provided and includes a base frame having four side members 86including a front cross bar 88 to which connection eyes 90 are secured.The terminal ends 82 of the cables 80 are looped about the respectiveeyes to secure same thereto as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3. The liftframe 84 further includes a vertical forward frame having upstandingside members 92 and a top cross brace 94.

Angle braces 96 extend between the rearmost side member 86 and the topcross brace 94 to rigidity the frame. A pair of axles 95 with wheelassemblies 96 are secured to the base frame side members 86 by dependingplates 97 and the Wheels ride in the channels 34. Elongated plates 98extend between the upstanding members 92, to rigidify or brace the same.

As seen in the drawings, the upstanding members 92 have a plurality ofsubstantially rectangular openings therein through each of which projecta small, rotatably mounted roller 100 which serves to protect a loadplaced against the lift frame 84 from damage such as scratching ormarring. The rollers 100 are preferably formed of rubber or similarmaterial and permit shifting of the load against the frontal surface ofthe lift frame without damage to the load. As will be seen below, thisaids in the initial positioning of the frame against the load and indischarge of the load from the assembly 10.

A protective tilt bar assembly 102 is secured to the frame adjacent thelower ends 28 of the rail members 24. The assembly 102 comprises anelongated, substantially rectangular rear brace 104 secured to andextending between the ends 28, from the ends of which extend runners orrocker bars 106 which have a first generally straight portion 107merging at a rounded corner 108 into an upwardly angled portion 110 witha flattened foot 112 fixed to the underside 32 of the rail 24, therunners serving to permit tilt movement of the frame 22 about thelongitudinal axis thereof. The straight portion 107 and/or the roundedcorner 108 of each bar 106 is provided with means to prevent slippage,the means being suitable to the area of use, for example, the resilientpad 114 shown herein which is adapted for use on indoor flooring and thelike. As hereinbefore stated, the apparatus 20 may be used to advantagein the control and movement of heavy objects placed on conventionaltransport dollies D which have frames 116 with caster wheel assemblies118 including wheels 120 which may ride in the channels 34.

In operation of the single unit form of the invention as shown inFIGURES 1 and 3 for elevating a load 0 up the flight of stairs from thelower level 12 to the upper level 14, and with initial reference toFIGURE 1, the location of the lift frame 84 prior to utilization of theapparatus is shown in dotted lines therein. The load 0 on dolly D isthen manually positioned in front of the lift frame 84 and the frontcaster wheels 120 of the dolly D are manually engaged in the channels34. The lever arm 74 is then cranked to rotate the drum 56 through theratchet wheel means and reel the cables 80 thereabout, thus drawing thelift frame 84 toward the frame 22. The rear dolly wheels and lift framewheels are manually engaged as they meet the rail ends 28 within thechannels 34. The tilt barassembly 102 permits the device 20 to be tiltedrearwardly prior to engagement of the full weight of the load thereon,thus positioning the channels 34 as closely as possible to the ground,with consequent reduction in lifting of the load, and as the load rollson the frame, the tilt frame rocks forwardly thereby placing the upperend of the frame in a position as closely adjacent as possible to theupper surface 14. When the load has been cranked to the upper end of thedevice, the front dolly wheels leave the tracks 34 and rest on thesurface 14, the dolly frame and load riding on the roller 44 until bothsets of dolly wheels are engaged on said surface, the load 0 shiftingagainst the rollers 100 as its angle relative to the lift frame ischanged by disengagement of the dolly wheels from the tracks. Thus, theload is effectively transferred from the lower level 12 to the upperlevel 14, without damage to the load. It will of course be recognizedthat means other than the manual lever arm 74 may be employed intransmitting rotary movement to the wheel 68 without departure from thespirit of this invention.

For movement of an object down an inclined area,

the dog 78 is placed in retracted position as shown in dotted lines inFIGURE 1, and the load is permitted to slide in the trackways, beingheld against undue, noncontrolled movement by manual force and by thefriction of the cable against the pulley and drum means.

In FIGURE 2, a modification employed where an elongated obstruction isencountered in shown. The modification comprises an extension frame 200having side rail members 202 connected by cross braces 204. Theextension rail members include inner ends 206 and outer ends 208 andhave upper sides 210 with channels 212 therein. Adjacent each end 206 apivotally mounted hook 214 is supplied, the hooks being engageable withthe projected lugs 42 of the axle 40. A roller assembly 216 is providedfor the extension and has idler pulleys 218 thereon. An elongated cable220 is trained about each pulley 218. Operation of the modified form ofthe invention is substantially the same as described for the formwithout the extension.

Having described and illustrated two embodiments of this invention indetail, it will be understood that these descriptions and illustrationsare offered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to belimited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination, with a dolly-type vehicle for movement of heavyloads having four spaced apart caster wheels thereon arranged in pairs,the caster wheels of each pair being adapted to track one another, of alift and load control assembly for movement of the vehicle on aninclined area, the lift and load control assembly comprising:

(a) an elongated frame having an upper end and a lower end;

(b) the frame comprising a pair of spaced apart rail members, eachhaving an upper side;

(0) said upper sides of said rail members having channels therein toreceive the vehicle wheels;

(d) a cross axle extended between the rail members adjacent the frameupper end;

(e) a roller, formed of resilient material, mounted on said cross axle;

(f) a pair of idler pulley wheels mounted on the cross axle on oppositeends of the roller;

(g) reel mounting plates depending from the rail members adjacent thelower end of the frame;

(h) a protective bar assembly underlying the frame adjacent the lowerend thereof, said assembly embodying a brace bar extending across andsecured to the lower ends of the rail members, and runners underlyingthe rail members inwardly of the brace bar and secured to the brace barand the rail members, said runners serving to permit tilt movement ofthe frame about the longitudinal axis of the frame;

(i) a drive axle journalled between said plates including a reel portionand an end projected outwardly of one plate;

(j) a first inclined tooth ratchet wheel fixed on said end;

(k) a drive ratchet mounted on the reel mounting plate and meshedtherewith;

(l) lever handle means for turning the drive ratchet and reel portion;

(m) stop means for the ratchet;

(n) a wheeled lift frame, including wheels riding in the channels tobear against the vehicle, the frame including a front cross bar; and

(0) cables extended from the front cross bar around the idler pulleywheels and secured to the reel portion.

2. The combination of claim 1, and:

(a) the cross axle including ends extended outwardly of the rail membersto provide projecting lugs; and

(b) a frame extension secured to the lugs.

3. A lift and control assembly comprising:

(a) an elongated frame having an upper end and a lower end;

(b) the frame comprising a pair of spaced apart rail members, eachhaving an upper side;

(c) the upper sides of the rail members having channels therein;

(d) a cross axle extended between the rail members adjacent the frameupper end;

(e) a roller, formed of resilient material, mounted on the cross axle;

(f) a pair of idler pulleys mounted on the cross axle on opposite endsof the roller;

(g) reel mounting plates depending from the rail members adjacent thelower end of the frame;

(h) a protective bar assembly underlying the frame adjacent the lowerend thereof, said assembly embodying a brace bar extending across andsecured to the lower ends of the rail members, and runners underlyingthe rail members inwardly of the brace bar and secured to the brace barand the rail members, said runners serving to permit tilt movement ofthe frame about the longitudinal axis of the frame;

(i) drive axle means journalled between the plates and including a reelportion and an end projected outwardly of one plate;

(j) drive ratchet means connected to said end to impart rotary movementto the reel means;

(k) a wheeled lift frame, including Wheels riding in the channels tobear against the frame, the lift frame including a front cross bar; and

(1) cables extended from the front cross bar around the idler pulleywheels and secured to the reel portion.

4. The invention of claim 3, and:

(a) the cross axle including ends extended outwardly of the rail membersto provide projecting lugs; and

(b) a frame extension secured to the lugs.

5. A lift and control assembly comprising:

(a) an elongated frame having an upper end and a lower end;

(b) the frame comprising a pair of spaced apart rail members extendingfrom the lower end to the upper end of the frame, each rail memberhaving an upper side;

(c) the upper sides of the rail members having channels therein;

(d) lift and lowering means operatively-connected to the rail members,and including cables having free ends;

(e) a wheeled lift frame including wheels riding in the channels, a liftframe having a front crossbar;

(f) attaching means on the front crossbar and to which is secured thefree ends of the cables;

(g) hand-actuahle means operatively-connected to the lift and loweringmeans for operating the latter; and

(h) a protective bar assembly underlying the frame adjacent the lowerend thereof, said assembly embodying a brace bar extending across andsecured to the lower ends of the rail members, and runners underlyingthe rail members inwardly of the brace bar and secured to the brace barand the rail members, said runners serving to permit tilt movement ofthe frame about the longitudinal axis of the frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 468,208 2/92Prunetti et al l04183 784,898 3/05 Scott 104176 1,125,355 1/15 Lovell104-176 2,107,465 2/38 Borggaard 104171 2,318,958 5/43 Murphy 104-532,952,411 9/60 Hand 238-10 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. MILTONBUCHLER, Examiner.

1. THE COMBINATION, WITH A DOLLY-TYPE VEHICLE FOR MOVEMENT OF HEAVYLOADS HAVING FOUR SPACED APART CASTER WHEELS THEREON ARRANGED IN PAIRS,THE CASTER WHEELS OF EACH PAIR BEING ADAPTED TO TRACK ONE ANOTHER, OF ALIFT AND LOAD CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE ON ANINCLINED AREA, THE LIFT AND LOAD CONTROL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: (A) ANELONGATED FRAME HAVING AN UPPER END AND A LOWER END; (B) THE FRAMECOMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED APART RAIL MEMBERS, EACH HAVING AN UPPERSIDE; (C) SAID UPPER SIDES OF SAID RAILS MEMBERS HAVING CHANNELS THEREINTO RECEIVE THE VEHICLE WHEELS; (D) A CROSS AXLE EXTENDED BETWEEN THERAIL MEMBERS ADJACENT THE FRAME UPPER END; (E) A ROLLER, FORMED OFRESILIENT MATERIAL, MOUNTED ON SAID CROSS AXLE; (F) A PAIR OF IDLERPULLEY WHEELS MOUNTED ON THE CROSS AXLE ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE ROLLER;(G) REEL MOUNTING PLATES DEPENDING FROM THE RAIL MEMBERS ADJACENT THELOWER END OF THE FRAME; (H) A PROTECTIVE BAR ASSEMBLY UNDERLYING THEFRAME ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF, SAID ASSEMBLY EMBODYING A BRACEBAR EXTENDING ACROSS AND SECURED TO THE LOWER ENDS OF THE RAIL MEMBERS,AND RUNNERS UNDERLYING THE RAIL MEMBERS INWARDLY OF THE BRACE BAR ANDSECURED TO THE BRACE BAR AND THE RAIL MEMBERS, SAID RUNNERS SERVING TOPERMIT TILT MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THEFRAME; (I) A DRIVE AXLE JOURNALLED BETWEEN SAID PLATES INCLUD-